Do I need both Visual C++ Redistributable Packages (x64 & x86) ?

I'm going to install windows 7 (x64) and I'd like to know if I need both Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages (x64 & x86) on my computer, or just installing Visual C++ Redistributable Package (x64) in enough to run both x86 and x64 programs?

I'm going to install windows 7 (x64) and I'd like to know if I need both Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages (x64 & x86) on my computer, or just installing Visual C++ Redistributable Package (x64) in enough to run both x86 and x64 programs?

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You do not need to explicitly install any of these redistributables after installing win7. Later on when you install an application which requires any of these redistributables to be present in the system, it is the application itself that will do the installation of the same. It will either prompt you to do the install or silently install them. At least, this is what i experienced.

You do not need to explicitly install any of these redistributables after installing win7. Later on when you install an application which requires any of these redistributables to be present in the system, it is the application itself that will do the installation of the same. It will either prompt you to do the install or silently install them. At least, this is what i experienced.

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+1 Totally agree, if a application need the packages it install itself, just check with Windows Update after if there a Update for these package.

I usually install 64 bit of visual c++ 2005 to 2010 (i think 4 installers-visual c++2005, 2005sp, 2008, and 2010), and net 4.0 on windows 7. I think as far as net4.0 is concerned, windows 7 is complete upto 3.5 and only 4.0 needs to be installed. I really do not expressly see why visual c++ may be required but some apps for video etc do require it. Go with 64 bit for win 7 64 bit and x86 for win 7 32 bit. I have been doing this (64bit c++ on win 7 64) for close to a year now, and I have not seen any problem (ie no need to install 32 bit c++ or net).

Some apps auto install visual c++ (some version) if it is not already installed. In that case, after the app is installed, I run the 4 installers again. Hardly takes a minute.

Windows 10, Core i7 6850k, ASUS GTX 970

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You do not need to explicitly install any of these redistributables after installing win7. Later on when you install an application which requires any of these redistributables to be present in the system, it is the application itself that will do the installation of the same. It will either prompt you to do the install or silently install them. At least, this is what i experienced.

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Maybe I don't need to install these packages by myself,
but I still need to know which one of them is for an x64 windows?
or does an x86 program only use visual C++ Redistributable (x86)?

Which package to install does NOT depend on your version of Windows. It DOES depend on what applications you run. If you run a 32-bit application, you need 32-bit runtimes, and if your application is compiled as a 64-bit application, then the 64-bit runtimes are needed. If you have both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, then you need BOTH the 32-bit and 64-bit runtimes. If you don't run 64-bit applications, you don't need the 64-bit runtimes, regardless of what Windows version you have.

However, you rarely ever need to install the runtimes yourself, because...
1) Some applications don't need a C/C++ runtime library (e.g., pure low-level WinAPI and never call any of the things that a C/C++ runtime provides; one example would be the ei.cfg remover that many people on this forum are familiar with)
2) Some applications statically link the runtime so an external DLL is not required
3) Some applications (including everything that comes as a part of Windows plus stuff built with the DDK) link to the system-provided runtime that comes standard with Windows (and not an "external" VC runtime)
4) Most applications that do require an external runtime will include it in their installer

This thread serves to prove that people will keep asking a question, until they get the answer they wanted to hear in the first place.

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I'm going to install windows 7 (x64) and I'd like to know if I need both Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages (x64 & x86) on my computer, or just installing Visual C++ Redistributable Package (x64) in enough to run both x86 and x64 programs?

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I install al the runtime redistrbutables, including .NET4 and hotfixes using a batch. Everything, especially games, uses one form or another. I understand this is not to everyone's liking though.